CLEVELAND (AP) — Will Venable said before the start of the American League Division Series that it was possible the Chicago White Sox could use bullpen games during the first three contests against the Cleveland Guardians.
Venable isn't deviating from that plan, so far.
Anthony Kay will be the opener for Game 2 on Monday at Progressive Field. It will be the 33rd time this season the White Sox have used an opener, including the third in the postseason.
Sean Burke is expected to throw most of the innings, but Venable said he will have many options available.
“The way it’s set up here with the two off days in between these first three games gives us a chance to go ahead,” Venable said.
Kay made 33 appearances during the regular season, including 31 starts, and went 10-9 with a 4.44 ERA. He was the first White Sox left hander to earn double-digit wins in a season since Carlos Rodón with 13 in 2021. Kay got the win on Wednesday in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series with two-thirds of a scoreless inning.
Kay was also among five Chicago pitchers in Saturday's 3-0 victory as they allowed only three hits and struck out 12.. He went 1 1/3 innings and allowed one hit and one walk.
“It’s been interesting watching him in a different type of role, shorten down. You’ve seen the velo tick up. I think the one thing is he just hasn’t been afforded kind of that length to get comfortable,” Venable said. “He’s made some really big pitches, got us out of some really tough spots. We just haven’t really seen us go beyond that.”
Chicago's bullpen has a 4.57 ERA with its openers, but Hagen Smith has not allowed an earned run in 5 2/3 innings in the postseason. The left-hander worked three scoreless innings in Game 1 of the first round against Houston and then 2 2/3 shutout innings on Saturday against the Guardians.
Burke got the start on Wednesday in Houston. The right-hander, who went 11-7 with a 3.34 ERA in the regular season, allowed three runs on four hits and struck out eight in four innings.
“I think just seeing the efforts and everybody kind of doing their own individual role just makes you want to take the ball and just do anything you can to kind of help the team just put up zeros, and passing that baton to the next guy,” Burke said. “And the way we’re doing this is really just like a team effort from the pitching side.”
Gavin Williams will get the call for Cleveland. The right-hander went 14-8 with a 3.76 ERA and was second in the major leagues with 248 strikeouts. He held opposing hitters to a .213 batting average, tied for seventh best in the majors.
Williams isn't stressing about the start despite the Guardians needing a win to avoid an 0-2 deficit going to Chicago.
“It’s just another game. Just going to go out there and try and do what I know I can do and execute and try to help the team win,” he said.
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